Conium maculatum L.

Spice In the field

Family: UMBELLIFERAE (APIACEAE)

Genus: Conium

Catalan common name: Cicuta. Fonollassa.

Spanish common name: Cicuta. Perejil lobuno.

Province distribution: Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

Uses and properties: Aromatic. Medicinal.

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte. Terophyte.

Habitats: Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones. Non-saline wetlands (intermittent watercourses, streams, artesian wells, ditches). Cultivated fields, path and road sides, disturbed zones, torrents.

Characteristics: Poison hemlock is more commonly known as a poison than as a common plant in our flora, and in fact it is quite frequent in many parts of the islands. It can be very abundant in the hollows in torrents (dry river beds) which remain dry most of the year round. It is a member of the Umbelliferae which can grow to over two metres in height, and has pure white flowers. Daucus carota looks rather similar, but this is a plant covered in hairs which makes it rough to the touch, Conium has no hairs and is very soft but rough to the touch; moreover Daucus forms fruits covered in bristles, whereas Conium has unarmed fruits.